Music: Das Lied Von Der Erde, Placido Domingo

At 59, the iron man of Italian opera is dipping a toe into the German repertoire, and he proves surprisingly comfortable with Gustav Mahler's song cycle Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth). Domingo isn't quite high-strung enough for Mahler's angst-ridden emotional world, but he makes an impassioned impression all the same, and though he no longer has the brilliance and heft needed to sail effortlessly above the gigantic orchestra, who does? Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic provide solid support. A+ for effort.